Newly acquired defender Jeff Parke called to U.S. National Team's January camp

Newly acquired defender Jeff Parke has been called up to U.S. National Team coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s 25-player roster. Parke will report to the team’s January camp beginning Monday, Jan. 7, at the U.S. National Training Center in Carson, Calif., U.S. Soccer announced today.

This is the second call-up of Parke’s career, the first coming on Jan. 5, 2012 as the senior squad prepared for friendly matches against Venezuela and Panama. He made his international debut against Panama, coming on in the 55th minute for San Jose forward Chris Wondolowski. The call makes him the first player since the inception of the Union to earn a call-up to the U.S. men's senior National Team.

The team will train together until Jan. 27, when they depart for Houston in advance of the first match of the 2013 campaign, facing Canada at BBVA Compass Stadium on Jan. 29. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and WatchESPN. Fans can also follow the match live on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and on Twitter @ussoccer. As part of the event, there will also be a public training session at BBVA Compass Stadium on Jan. 28.

The match is the only game prior to the start of final round qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off for the United States on Feb. 6 against Honduras in San Pedro Sula. In addition to the Hexagonal, the U.S. will compete in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup this summer.

Parke, 30, played two seasons in Seattle after being signed in 2010 but was initially selected by Sounders FC in the 2008 MLS Expansion Draft after he was left unprotected following five seasons in New York. Parke made himself a mainstay in the Sounders’ starting lineup, appearing in 78 matches over three seasons. In a central defender role, Parke was instrumental in Seattle’s three straight MLS playoff appearances. Most of his MLS career was spent as defender in New York, after being selected as the final pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft.

A Philadelphia original, Parke was a two-time All-America defender at Drexel University. In high school, led area soccer power Downingtown West to back-to-back PIAA state championships and played for famed youth club and Union youth affiliate, FC DELCO.